As an expansive winter storm continues to affect large parts of the United States, officials report at least five deaths linked to the severe weather, which has paralyzed transportation networks and caused widespread power outages. The storm has prompted emergency declarations across seven states, including Maryland, Virginia, and Arkansas.
Widespread Winter Storm Claims Five Lives Across the U.S.
Widespread Winter Storm Claims Five Lives Across the U.S.
A massive winter storm has wrought havoc across several states, resulting in five fatalities and widespread disruption.
A relentless winter storm, now dubbed Winter Storm Blair, has claimed five lives as it grips a large swath of the United States, causing extreme weather-related disruptions. The polar vortex has unleashed its icy fury, leading to school closures, flight cancellations, and dangerous road conditions.
Emergency measures have been enacted across seven states, including Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas, as the storm continues to batter the region. Over 2,000 flights were canceled and approximately 6,500 were delayed due to massive snow accumulations, with some areas reporting snowfall of up to one foot. An alarming quarter of a million residents found themselves without power on Monday as the storm raged on.
Federal offices and schools in Washington, D.C. were closed in response to the inclement weather. Meteorologists predict that the cold Arctic air will keep conditions frosty for weeks to come, with the East Coast bracing for continued snowfall into the night. In D.C., between 5 and 9 inches of snow fell, bringing locals outdoors to enjoy impromptu snowball fights in front of the iconic Washington Monument.
Former Olympic skier Clare Egan was spotted cross-country skiing across the National Mall, an unusual but celebratory sight amid the chaos. Meanwhile, winter storm conditions led to dangerous road situations, particularly in Missouri where more than 365 vehicle accidents occurred during just one day, resulting in multiple injuries and at least one fatality.
Kansas has been particularly hard-hit, with local reports confirming two deaths from car crashes during the storm. In Virginia, officials reported 300 crashes within a single night, urging citizens to refrain from driving unless absolutely necessary. Local authorities warned that roads resembled “skating rinks,” as plows struggled to keep up with the relentless weather.
Poweroutage.us reported that over 260,000 customers were without electricity across Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia as the storm compounded an already hazardous winter landscape, leading to severe disruptions across the eastern United States.
